I’ve written about it many times before; over 86% of comic book characters are white men or white in general. It is easy to say that diversity does not matter when almost nine out of every 10 is white. Diversity does matter. Comic book fans love to see themselves represented in stories, and not just as heroes. Who are the greatest Black comic book villains?
The 8 Greatest Black Comic Book Villains
If you ask the modern comic book fan to name the greatest Black comic book villain, they might name Erik Killmonger. Of course, most of the people who love Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal have never read a comic book.
There are many more to consider. Holocaust from Blood Syndicate is one of the most arrogant, violent, and sociopathic Black villains ever created. Despot is one of the most criminally underrated black comic book villains.
Here is a list of the eight greatest Black comic book villains.
1. Holocaust/Pyre
Thomasina Jefferson was a young teen and single mother who gave birth to a baby boy she could not take care of. During a hospital fire, Thomasina ran outside with her baby and came across another young mother crying over the loss of her baby son. Thomasina gave her son to the mother and told her it was her baby.
Unfortunately, Leonard Smalls, Jr., grew up in an abusive household and was never shown any love. He became a Dakota City street hood with the mindset that you are either the hunter or hunted, abused or abuser, there is no in-between. During a gang war, Smalls, Jr. was caught in the Big Bang, an event where police used experimental tear gas on those present.
99% of people at the Big Bang would die, and everyone else got powers. Smalls, Jr. would develop the power to generate fire and flames so hot they could stop bullets. Now using the name Holocaust, and Pyre for a time, Holocaust became a cunning, ruthless, intelligent, and sociopathic Dakota City mob boss.
His origin is actually much darker. Holocaust was one of the characters in Milestone Media’s Blood Syndicate comic and one of the greatest black comic book villains no one knows about. The character made his debut in Blood Syndicate #1 in 1993.
Blood Syndicate: Season One is a six-issue, 168-page hardcover that collects the 2023 series. It is a reimagining of the 1993 series. Buy it now at Amazon for $24.99.
2. Black Manta
David Milton Hyde made his debut as Black Manta in Aquaman #35 back in 1967. The character was drawn as a man in a scuba suit with an exceptionally bug-eyed helmet. Black Manta would not be aesthetically seen as one of the greatest Black comic book villains until Adventure Comics #452 in 1997. That issue was the first time that Black Manta was ever seen without his helmet.
Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II would portray the character in 2018’s Aquaman and 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Black Manta has no powers, but is intelligent, an expert fighter, and sea expert, and an expert at controlling his Black Manta armor.
2021’s Black Manta is the character’s first solo series. Hyde discovers a new, valuable metal and must contend with new threats from the past. The 160-page paperback collects all six issues of the series as well as some tie-in issues. Get it now at Amazon for $15.99.
3. Bronze Tiger
Benjamin Turner made his debut in DC Comics’ Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1 in 1975. There are two origin stories for the character, but he is basically a young Black man who travels to Asia to become a martial arts master.
He is a top assassin, spy, and martial artist. Turner also knows how to control his chi to accelerate healing after injury. Bronze Tiger has a loyal fanbase in comic book circles. Actor Michael Jai White would go on to portray the character on the CW Arrow TV series.
4. Killmonger
Erik Killmonger is not a new character, but is one of the greatest black comic book villains in comic books. The character made his debut in Jungle Action #6 in 1973. Born as N’Jadaka, the child was taken from Wakanda to the United States after the murder of his parents by a Wakandan radical.
N’Jadaka grew up resenting Wakanda, the Black Panther, and the Wakanda culture that was taken from him. N’Jadaka, after becoming an adult, would take the name Erik Killmonger. He would try numerous times to overthrow Black Panther and enact a genocidal plan to take over the world.
This character was the inspiration for Michael B. Jordan’s version of Killmonger in 2018’s Black Panther and 2022’s Wakanda Forever.
Black Panther: Killmonger – By Any Means is a 107-page paperback. It is a five-issue origin tie-in series that came out in 2018 during the height of Black Panther mania. Buy it now at Amazon for $14.17.
5. Tombstone
Alonzo Lincoln, also known as Tombstone, is a mob boss who made his debut in Web of Spider-Man #36 in March 1988. The character is an albino Black man who originally spoke in whispers. Tombstone originally had no powers but later gained super strength, endurance, reflexes, and near-impervious skin. There are rumors that Tombstone might make his first live-action debut in 2026’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Amazing Spider-Man By Wells & Romita Jr. Vol. 1: World Without Love is a 144-page paperback. This 2022 series polarizes comic book fans because of the newest deconstruction of Peter and Mary Jane’s relationship. However, it also features one of the best characterizations of Tombstone as a ruthless gangster.
Buy it now at Amazon for $16.57.
6. M’Baku (Man-Ape)
M’Baku made his comic book debut in The Avengers #62 in 1969. After earning the trust of Black Panther as the second greatest warrior in Wakanda, M’Baku began plotting a takeover. M’Baku killed a mystical white gorilla, ate its flesh, and took a bath in its blood. He then took the name Man-Ape after gaining super strength, stamina, and reflexes.
Actor Winston Duke would portray a version of M’Baku in 2018’s Black Panther and 2022’s Wakanda Forever.
7. Electro
Maxwell Dillon made his debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #9 in 1964. There are actually two white versions of Electro in the comic books, one male and one female, Francine Frye. Dillon became Electro after getting hit by lightning near a power line. He gained super strength and the power to control and channel electricity.
Actor Jamie Foxx portrayed Electro in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. Foxx’s portrayal would introduce Electro as one of the greatest Black comic book villains to a new generation of fans.
New Avengers Omnibus Vol. 1 collects all 31 issues of the 2004 series and numerous tie-in issues. Electro is one of the memorable main villains in the opening storyline. Electro causes havoc as he instigates a mass breakout from the superhuman prison known as The Raft.
This trade is hard to find as a physical copy because it is revered and always in demand.
Buy it on Kindle now for $39.99.
8. Despot (Wildstorm)
Isiah King made his debut in StormWatch #25 in 1995. King was part of a group of experimental soldiers who were exposed to celestial phenomena in space. King would gain celestial-level telepathy, telekinesis, and super-strength as a result. He could raise the dead with his telepathy and move mountains with his powers of telekinesis. Taking the name Despot, he is one of the most powerful and greatest Black comic book villains that no one knows about.
We Need More Black Comic Book Villains
Did you know that over 86% of comic book characters are white men or white? Almost nine out of every ten superheroes are white men or white in general. Do you remember Shuma Gorath/Gargantos, the bug-eyed tentacle monster in 2022’s Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness? Or, the J.A.R.V.I.S. AI from the early Iron Man films? Or Ultron from Avengers: Age of Ultron?
There are more comic book robots, AI, demons, monsters, elves, and various non-human entities combined than there are non-white characters and superheroes. That is not a happy accident. It is pure, unadulterated race politics, a mindset about how superheroes should be publicly presented that has existed since 1938. Jim Crow was still the law when Action Comics #1 made its debut.
It is easy to criticize diversity when almost 90% of characters look like you or a race you solely desire to see as superheroes. People like to see themselves as representatives in stories. When I think of the best supervillains, I think of Lex Luthor, Norman Osborn, Magneto, Max Lord, Baron Zemo, Loki, and so on.
If you like that or prefer, fine. Just be honest about why. I love seeing Black superheroes and villains get more attention and exposure, and there is nothing wrong with that.
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